Cartoon at home. The best programs for drawing cartoons

Now technology has reached such a level that anyone can make a cartoon at home. Equipment you need is a digital camera, a tripod (although there are ways to do without it, more on them below) and a computer (for editing).
It seems to me that this is a wonderful joint activity for children and adults, only on the part of adults it is necessary to have a lot, a lot of patience, and perhaps it is better to try to do the first experiment on your own. And it is important that, in addition to the exciting (albeit difficult) process, you have a result that remains forever, and it can be revised and sent to everyone. Now, before the New Year, this is especially relevant, because you can make your own unusual congratulations.
We started making the first cartoons with a child at about 2 years old, but, of course, at first it was more about getting used to him than explaining how to do it and what needs to be done. And already at the age of 4, he was already inventing it himself, drawing the background, drawing the characters (these were mostly cars) and moving everything, it was required on my part to cut out the cars, remove them and mount them.
Although, when I make cartoons with other children, it seems to me that the optimal age is 7 years and older, although I also did it with 6-year-olds, but temperament is important here - it’s difficult for electric brooms to do such a painstaking task.
All this actually means that I wrote instructions, in my opinion quite detailed and understandable (I hope), on how to do all this. And I will be glad if it is useful to someone and inspires them to create their own cartoons.

Techniques you can try at home:
1) Translation
We cut out the characters from paper and move them on the plane.
It might look like this:

Or so

Or so

2) Plasticine animation.
We sculpt characters from plasticine, they can be either flat (then the technique is close to transferring) or three-dimensional (then the technique is close to puppet animation)
I work with plasticine very little, well, somehow it turned out that way.
But here there is a caterpillar.

And here is a dinosaur and a man

3) Subject animation.
Cubes, construction sets, cars, trains, animals and people are suitable here.
All sorts of self-built city houses, etc., turn out very cool.

4) Loose animation.
Not only sand, but also all sorts of cereals, beads, coffee, etc. and so on.
Among other things, fiddling with bulk substances is very calming and relieves stress well.

5) Pixilation.
The main actors here are you. You can ride the chair like a car, walk through walls, and even fly.

Creating a cartoon at home includes two main stages:
1. Shooting.
2. Installation.

SHOOTING

For shooting you will need a camera, a tripod, good lighting (lamp) and, in fact, what you are going to shoot and a background for it. And it can be almost anything.

Timing: usually I make 6 frames per second, sometimes 4 (this also depends on the program in which you will later edit your cartoon, but more on that below).
Accordingly, at a speed of 6 frames per second, for a minute of film you need to take 240 photographs (there, of course, there will be all sorts of pauses and credits).

The tripod needs to be secured. I stick it to the floor and table with paper tape. All the screws on the tripod must be screwed tightly to prevent any movement of the camera.

In principle, you can try without a tripod, then the camera is simply placed on the table or you can tape it, for example, to a stepladder (but this, frankly, is a complete nightmare). When I started, I didn't have any tripod.
The result looked like this:

There is also such a thing - a tripod-clamp, with the help of which you can screw your camera to a table or stool, it’s quite convenient I must say (but I don’t have it, but my friends used it very successfully for cartoons)

It's better to install it right away small size photos, I make 640 by 480 pixels at maximum resolution. If you forgot and took large photographs, then later, before editing, do not forget to reduce them.

Now you need to install the light. If you work with natural light (from a window), be prepared for it to change unexpectedly - for example, a cloud will cover the sun (especially if you set the shutter speed and aperture manually); if the mode is automatic, then the camera should adjust itself, but my camera in auto mode produces completely ugly colors.
WITH artificial light work easier. He's the same all the time. I have Powersave lamp 40 W, which gives, respectively, 240 W light, it has a standard base, and it is screwed into a regular clothespin lamp. It is also convenient to work with adjustable (bending) table lamps and floor lamps.

Now we need to line up the frame. If you're shooting flat, you'll need a suitable sheet or fabric for the background. If your characters are three-dimensional, then you need either scenery or a suitable background. The background, as a rule, also needs to be secured, especially in relation to the tripod. This can be done using paper tape, pins, etc. That is, if you are shooting on a table, the tripod legs need to be attached directly to the table top. Make sure that there is no unnecessary stuff in the frame and mark the boundaries of the frame. I usually mark the borders directly on the background sheet.

Place the main character on the background (for example, you have a blue sheet with a boat on it), check all the camera settings: photo size, shooting mode, light, colors, frame borders, tripod immobility - once again tighten all the knobs on the tripod. Remove the main character.

You can start shooting.
First of all, take a couple of frames of an empty background. Then we should have characters.
For example, at the beginning the hedgehog comes. We place the hedgehog near the border of the frame, let the tip of the nose appear in the frame. We take pictures. We move the hedgehog forward about a centimeter and take a photo. Don't forget to remove your hands from the frame when taking photos! After shooting 10-15 frames, we scroll through the frames in preview mode at a fast pace, this is approximately how the movement will look in your cartoon. We draw conclusions - we like the way it moves, we don’t like it; errors are usually immediately noticeable. We continue: move, remove, move, remove.

Take at least 30 frames (5 seconds per output) for a single element episode (for example, a car arrived and left), otherwise it will be too short and indistinct for the viewer.

When you have shot everything you wanted (remember that for a minute at a speed of 6 frames per second we need 360 frames), you can think about the credits and title. Of course, you can make them later during editing, but it is much more interesting to make them in the style of a cartoon: for example, mold them from plasticine or write on paper directly under the camera. If you write, then put the sheet on the background and write one or half a letter at a time, and don’t forget to take pictures.

When everything is filmed, it’s time to move on to the second part of the process - editing.

INSTALLATION.
Let's agree right away, I haven't worked with sound at all yet, I just select music that suits my mood, so it's useless to ask me anything about voice acting.

A cartoon from photographs can be made in any editing program (program for working with video). Almost everyone has it on their computer right away. Windows Movie Maker (hereinafter referred to as Movie), I will tell you about it and Sony Vegas(hereinafter referred to as Vegas), which I am currently using. All the rest, in general, work by analogy.

First of all, you download all the photos into your computer and put them in separate folder. Then you open a photo editor that allows you to batch conversions, and take photos the right size(if you didn’t do it right away) and rename it so that all files have serial numbers, coming in a row (for Movie this is not necessary, for Vegas and others it is mandatory).

Then you open your editing program, put your sequence of photos on the video track, setting desired speed, to the audio track - suitable music, save the file and proudly show it to everyone. Hooray!

And now in more detail and with nuances.
Let's start with Movie.
Open the program and import your photos.

Set the frame rate, go to “service” then “Options”.

You need to select an image duration of 0.125 and a transition duration of 0.25

Then you highlight necessary photos and drag them with the cursor onto the “Video” track

Then import the music you want and drag it to the “Sound or Music” track

Cutting the music to the desired length

Save, to do this, click “File”, then “publish movie”

Then follow the prompts.

Now about Vegas. In general, almost the same, some important points
Open the program, click "File" and "Properties"

Here you need to set the frame size (like your photos) and frequency (this is the number of frames per second)

Next, to insert photos, click “File”, then “Import”, then “Data”, open the desired folder, select the first frame you need, select it, check the box at the bottom "Open sequence of still frames", in the "Range" box the first number is the number of the frame you selected, the second number (on a white background) is the number of the last frame in the sequence, according to default - last file in a folder, if you do not need all the files, enter the number of the last one you need instead.

Next, it’s similar to the Movie: Your sequence ends up on the video track (if it’s not there, you need to drag it there), import the desired music ("File", "Import", "Data", select the file), insert it onto the audio track, cut it to required length

Save the file: "File", "Create as"

Select the video tab, the parameters in the red square should be as in the picture

Next, click “Ok”, then “Save”, wait until the file is calculated, look at it and enjoy the result.

All!
In general, I want to say

Making a plasticine cartoon - great way try yourself in animation. This will take a lot of time and effort, so be patient. You will also need computer program for video processing, suitable plasticine or polymer clay for character figures, as well as materials for creating backgrounds. In addition, you will need to think through the plot of the cartoon down to the smallest detail. Creating a storyboard will help you plan your story. Once the planning phase is complete, you can set up the camera and start taking photos. And when you shoot all required material, all you have to do is edit it in the program to get a finished cartoon!

Steps

Part 1

Install a video processing program on your computer to be able to edit the materials shot for the cartoon. You can use any camera to create claymation animations, but you'll need the right video editing software so you can stitch the disparate footage together. Your computer may already have one of these programs pre-installed. For example, at Mac users it will be iMovie, while others desktop computers it could be Quicktime. You can also download and install an application such as Picasa on your computer. You'll probably need to experiment a bit before you figure out what works best for you.

Use wax clay if you want to be able to mix the colors of the clay. Use inexpensive classic plasticine for your work, since to this day it is produced in almost the same form in which it was used to create the first plasticine cartoons. It is made on a wax basis and melts easily in a water bath. You can purchase it at most office supply, craft and toy stores.

• To create a water bath for melting play dough, fill one pan halfway with water. Place it on the stove. Then place another slightly smaller pan on top of the first one so that it can fit snugly inside. Place the plasticine whose colors you want to mix into the top pan and turn on the stove burner. Boiling water in the bottom pan will allow you to melt the play dough and mix it easily.

1. Use polymer clay if you want your character figures to better retain their shape. Polymer plasticine contains plastic, which makes it more durable than wax plasticine. If you are working on a long-term project, polymer clay, such as the Sculpey brand, will be for you best choice, since figures made from it will keep the shape you need longer.

2. Create character figures. When you finally decide on the choice of plasticine, you can start sculpting character figures. Make sure that you have made absolutely all the figures that you will need. This applies to all characters, as well as any accessories or furnishings that you think should be clay.

   • You may find it easier to pre-create a wire frame for each of the characters. To do this, form the base of the body with arms and legs from wire. If you are creating figurines of something other than people, use wire to form the basic shape of the corresponding figurine.
   • When the wire frame is ready, cover it with plasticine. You will need to create arms, legs, feet and hands with fingers from plasticine, as well as any other parts that must be made from this material.
   • If you are new to clay animation, try to use figures with simple forms. They will be easier to create and manipulate. Also remember that some of the most famous claymation cartoons were also created from simple figurines - just think of "Plasticine Crow"!

3. Prepare or construct additional items from other materials. Unless you're going to create everything from play dough, you'll need to assemble or construct everything else from other materials. Lego or other similar construction toys may be a good idea for this. You'll probably also want to create a background for your cartoon (depending on the story). Drawings on thick cardboard can be an excellent background.

   • For example, if your cartoon is about a dog and his owner walking in a park, you'll need a set of trees, maybe a pond, and probably a few more buildings in the background. Trees can be assembled from a construction set, and the pond and background can be made from cardboard.
   • If you plan to shoot next to a wall, you can tape the background to the wall.
   • Before you start filming, make sure that all additional scenery from the construction kit has been assembled. This will reduce the total time you need to spend on filming.

4. Think about the order of filming all the movements of the figures. It is useful to reflect any movement of the figure frame by frame on separate storyboard cards. Each such card should include a scene description, frame numbering, and any notes you may need, including the actual photo number. Perhaps as you work on the cartoon, you will find that you need to add or remove some cards. This is completely normal, just remember to correct the frame numbering!

   • The difference between adjacent frames will be extremely insignificant. For example, you cannot make it so that in the first frame the main character stands in one place, and in the second he has already moved a whole step. Instead, you'll need to have a series of shots where one of his legs starts to bend at the knee, then bends even more, then lifts off the floor, and so on.

Part 3

1. Place the camera on a tripod. Due to the fact that each frame of the cartoon reflects the slightest movements of the figures, it is very important to ensure that the camera remains in a fixed position at all times. To do this, you need to install it on a tripod. You may also want to shoot a few test shots to make sure the tripod is at the right height and angle to the scene you're shooting.

   • For filming a plasticine cartoon, you can use any digital camera. A larger DSLR will give you more editing options, but you can shoot with a simple point-and-shoot camera.
   • You can also use your smartphone camera, just remember to save the photos to external media information or cloud service. Otherwise, you simply won’t have enough space on your phone for them.
   • You'll need to change your camera position periodically depending on what you want to focus on in each scene. Be sure to indicate on your storyboard when and where you need to move the camera.

2. Prepare the first scene of the cartoon. Prepare everything you're going to use for the first scene, and then arrange the character pieces on it according to the first frame of the storyboard. After actually arranging the objects and figures in the scene, you may decide to change things up a bit. This is normal, just remember to make sure that such changes are present in subsequent frames (if necessary).

   • The first scene should set the stage for your story. For example, if you are filming a cartoon about a boy taking his dog for a walk, the first scene could be an outside view of the boy's house. There should also be a boy with a leash in his hand and his dog, ready to go for a walk.

Making cartoons different ways, the most popular is creating the illusion of movement using a series of hand-drawn images. You can try this with your child - draw a series of drawings in a thick notebook or notebook with some changes from last page to the first one. Now if you quickly start scrolling through the pages, you will get a small hand-drawn .

But real animation is a very labor-intensive process. First, the script, then many are drawn, they are photographed and edited into one whole at a display speed of 24 frames per second, additionally the sound is superimposed and synchronized. The production of one cartoon can take from several months to several years.

Puppet animation is no less popular. The principle of operation is the same - photographing and assembling frames, but the heroes - on each subsequent frame - minimal changes in position, and when assembling, the illusion of movement is obtained.

More and more gaining momentum computer animation. After the main characters are drawn in the program and their main poses are indicated, the program itself calculates intermediate movements, creating a cartoon.

Computer animation and animation are the most promising types of animation in development, which provide maximum opportunities for the implementation of creative ideas.

How to make cartoons yourself?

Some parents make cartoons at home with . One of the methods has already been mentioned above - a series of pictures in a notebook or notebook. A more modern option is to draw pictures on a computer and assemble the finished product using special programs.

At home with a child, you can also shoot puppet animations - the main characters can be plasticine creatures, household items, products in the kitchen and anything else that is interesting. For example, you can recreate a kolobok in the kitchen and capture it in a film.

To produce such a film you will need a digital camera and a lot of patience; the more frames that are shot with minimal changes to them, the smoother and more beautiful the video will be.

You can use one of them directly to assemble the video. popular programs, for example, Video Spin, PhotoSHOW or VideoMach. Many programs have been released for these purposes.

For older adults, 3-D graphics programs are available to draw cartoons directly in the program, without material implementation.

Hi all. Childhood is a wonderful time. Memories of that wonderful time are associated with your favorite cartoons. Every child wondered, “How is it made?” and even dreamed of drawing my own cartoon. When there were no computers, they used a notepad or a stack of sheets to create short animations, drawing a character on each piece of paper, and then viewing it in motion. Today you will learn how to create a cartoon at home on your computer.

Currently, there are many programs using which you can create cartoon animation. But many of them are complex and require additional training. Here is a small selection, an online service and program that require minimal effort in mastering the creation of cartoons.

Create a cartoon

Let's start with something simpler. The Multator service allows you to create animations without downloading any additional programs. Everything will be built directly in the browser.

To begin with, you can familiarize yourself with the works of service participants and look at “New” and “Popular” works.

Go to the “Draw” section of the service and you can start creating a cartoon. If you wish, you can go through the registration process, so that in this case some additional functions will open.

The control panel is very simple and consists of only a few buttons.

• add frame
• delete frame
• preview
• save
• paint
• erase

Here, in the first frame, you draw a character, add a second frame. In the second frame, the image of the first frame remains, but is paler in color. This helps to recreate the drawing using the old lines, but adding your own changes. So frame by frame.

Go to MULTATOR

For those who have difficulty drawing, there are lessons given by users of the Multator service. They can be found by going to the “Editor Help” - “WIKI” - “Lessons” section.

And for those who like unusual drawing, welcome.

If you want to take drawing and creating cartoons more seriously, read on.

On the Internet it was not easy to find a program that was not so complicated, free, and even in Russian. And there is one, whose name is Synfigstudio. You can download and install this software using the link below. And now I’ll introduce you a little to the program’s capabilities.

What is Synfigstudio

• A big plus is support for the Russian language.

• The program specializes in animation, which means the creation of cartoons is based on this.
• In addition, the creation takes place using vector animation, which means, or rather eliminates, blurring of objects when scaling. This is a huge plus.
• Another huge advantage is that the program independently recreates smooth transition between objects. This means there is no need to draw all the frames in the animation plot, which provides enormous time savings.
• This program works similar to Photoshop. It also has layers, various specials. effects (backlight, blur, darkening, etc.) general program has many different features and interesting features for professional creation of animation and cartoons.

This utility can be mastered by a simple user, although professional animation creators also use it in their work, since its complexity is more designed for regular user. But still, it wouldn’t hurt to look into lessons on working with the program. And you can find it on this site.

Synfigstudio can save your finished project in Digital Video, MPEG, AVI format, and animated videos in GIF and MNG. The program has the ability to save frames made for intermediate insertion and other features. You can learn about all this from the lessons.

Download the program from here SITE .

Hope you are interested this program! And I recommend getting to know her better. With Synfigstudio, creating cartoons at home on your computer can become your hobby!

Recommend to your friends, please!

Children love watching cartoons. And if you offer them to make their own cartoon, they will be absolutely delighted! In this article I will tell you how to make a simple cartoon yourself. I won't talk about any specialized programs animation. We'll talk about classical way- we will shoot many individual frames and “glue” them together into a video. It's not difficult at all, quite fun and entertaining. There is also a learning element in this - the child will understand “where cartoons come from,” plus we’ll practice a little perseverance :)

So, to create the simplest cartoon we will need:

• camera
• program for creating video from photos
• scene and hero
• fantasy

You can, of course, take the process seriously and add a camera tripod and good lighting to the list, but we’re shooting an amateur cartoon, aren’t we?

let's consider specific example. We use a Sony NEX 5N camera, free program for gluing videos. As a stage - just a sofa, as a hero - a strange structure assembled by his son from a Lego constructor.

The idea is simple - you need to fix the camera so that it does not move and is aimed at the “scene”. In this example, I simply placed the camera on the sofa. On the stage, we move the hero and shoot the frame, move it a little more and shoot, and so on, until we have enough patience and imagination :) For such shooting, I turn off the automatic focusing on the camera and set the focus manually so that the scene is clearly visible and the focus does not change in different frames .

The more frames you take, the more interesting and smoother the cartoon will be. Experiment!

We glue individual cartoon frames into one video file

Difficulties often arise at this stage, so I will describe the process in more detail. When everything is ready, copy all the frames shot for the cartoon into a separate folder. Launch Bolide Slideshow Creator. In general, this is a program for create slideshows, but it has the ability to set a very small delay between frames, it is free, plus there are some other conveniences for our purposes, which I will write about later. Now step by step:

Let's wait a little and our cartoon is ready! This time we got something like this:

This was an example with 10 frames per second, when the frame display time was 0.1 seconds. For this cartoon we found 71 frames. But for example, the same project, but with a frame display time of 0.05 seconds:

A couple more homemade cartoons

Creating homemade cartoons is great fun! Here are a couple more cartoons made with my son. To do this, we found 85 frames, although we missed the focus a little:

And here's another strange LEGO construction, a flying rocket and a crazy horse :)